Trombone.



F. HOLTON.

TROMBONE.

APPLICATION min 1m31. 191s.

1,236, 1 73 Patented Aug.. 7, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HOLTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK I-IOLTON & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TROMBONE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Application led January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,217.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HoLToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trombones, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trombones, and has for its object, the provision of simple and eiiicient means for facilitating the holding and operation of trombones, and the like. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

An embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1, is a side view of a trombone equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged fragmental view of a trombone showing my counterbalance member partly in section.

Figs. 3 and 4, are enlarged fragments of trombones, showing different forms of counterbalance members used in connection therewith.

Fig. 5, is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig, 2; and,

Fig. 6, is a fragmental section showing a modified form of clamp.

In the use of certain wind instruments, such as trombones and the like, the instrument is held in use so that the weight thereof is not equally balanced at the supporting point. My invention relates to means for adding weight to the lighter end portion of such an instrument, to render the instrument substantially in balance when supported in use.

In the drawing, I have shown a trombone of conventional design. Such an instrument is ordinarily grasped by the left hand of the operator around crossbars 10 and 11, and a portion of the main windpipe 12, of the horn. The cross bar 13 of the playing slide 14 is grasped by the right hand to operate the latter. When the instrumentis thus held, the end having the bell 15 and playing slide 14 is heavier than the end having bend 16, therefore, to balance the horn, the left hand and wrist must be placed under considerable strain to hold the horn in operative position, or else the right hand must press upwardly on cross bar 13 to help balance the instrument. If a strain is put on the wrist of the left hand, it tires the left wrist considerably, and if the rightA hand must help to support the instrument, the force applied in supporting the instrument, detracts from the ease of operating the playing slide 14.

In order to properly balance the instrument so that no entra strain is placed on either hand of the operator, I provide a counterbalance member 17, which I secure by any suitable means to a portion of the bend portion 16 of the horn. The counterbalance member 17 is preferably of a weight to balance the horn on the left hand of the operator in use. It will be evident that the member 17 may be made in a variety of shapes, such as are suggested in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive. The weight is preferably attached to a crossbar 18, in the bend portion 16 of the horn, but it may be attached to any other part desired.

The counterbalance member I have shown, is made up of a shell or hollow member 19, which has a clamp formed at one side thereof. The clamp comprises an upper portion 20, and lower portion 21, hinged together as at 22, The opening between members 21 and 22, may be of any desired size to iit a particular part of the horn, such as the crossbar 18. The clamp parts 2() and 21, are provided with ears 23 and 24, which are held together by a thumb screw 25. The thumb screw passes through a perforation in ear 24, and is threaded in the ear 23, so that upon loosening the thumb screw 25, the weight member may be adjusted on the crossbar 18, or other parts of the horn, or by removing the screw 25, the clamp member may be removed from, or applied to the horn.

In order to give the counterbalance member suiiicient weight to properly balance the horn, a heavy metal, such as lead, is placed in the hollow portion of the hollow member 19, as indicated at 26. The desired amount of material 26, may be melted and run into member 19, or may be placed in such member in any suitable condition. I have shown an opening 27, extending from the inner side or horn engaging surface of the Clamp member 21 into the interior of member 19, for putting the material 26, into member 19. Any other suitable opening may be provided when so desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not ydesire to be limited to the precise details set forth, Abut desire to avail myself of such' variations and changes as come Within 'the scope olf -the appended @lair-ns.

I Claim l. The Combination With a trombone, of a counterbalance therefor Comprising a hoilow member, a quantity of heavy material Y Weighting member, a lamp member attached to the Weighting member, a second clamp 'mQmIben :and jmeans connecting the clamp members together :and v.altaching said clamp members to the part of the trombone which v'is )the upper part When the trombone is in playing position.

In testimony whereof I have :signed my name to lthis specitieation, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 28th day 25 of January, A. D. 19M.

FRANK BOLTON.

Witnesses: i

TfnogMAs Consort, CHARLES SEEM.

,Copies fof this patent may be qbtained -Jfor 'fi-ve cents each, by addressing the tommissoner of Patente Washington, ;D. C. 

